Enemy of my Enemy (Horatio Logan Chronicles Book 1)

by Chris Hechtl

  After the fourth such refusal, Admiral Childress had flat-out ordered the commodore to go. He'd even had his staff arrange a fellow flag officer whose loyalty he could trust to escort the commodore on such dinners.

  They hadn't gotten anywhere however. The man simply refused to be bought. They kept trying to bribe him or get him to play their game, but he wasn't interested. Omar shook his head as the other officers squirmed uncomfortably in the silence. Good, let them stew he thought.

  Part of the problem he had with the commodore wasn't just related to his squeaky clean image or his representation of Irons and what the fleet admiral wanted of Bek. Omar was part of the old guard so he saw the commodore as a threat and competition. Many political admirals expected juicy manager or lobby jobs once they retired. It was up to Omar to dole them out, and he relished the power that went with that. He could ordinarily make or break a man's career on a whim.

  But not this man. And that pissed him off immensely. He was a perpetual thorn in his ass. One he wanted plucked and crushed.

  “I have an idea. If it works, we'll kill two birds with one stone,” Admiral Draken said.

  “Oh?” Omar said, forcing himself to sit back and listen.

  “And it will play into Admiral Irons plans if we play it right,” the vice admiral said. That made Admiral Childress stiffen slightly in indignation. “I think. I know of the orders from Caroline's first visit, and I have heard enough of what Irons plans to do. I think it neatly dovetails in with Ilmarinen. She's perfect for the role,” he said.

  “You're thinking about sending him out on that ship?” Admiral Creator of Things asked cautiously.

  “Exactly. Ilmarinen is finished, and we're back to make-work for the commodore, which led to our current scandal,” he said. “So, we need to keep him busy, productive, and Irons happy. So what I'm proposing is, we bring him in, sit him down, and see if he can handle a special project of our choosing. One that will get him out of Bek. Possibly permanently if the ship he built isn't up for the task …,” he said, turning a look on their boss.

  Slowly Omar nodded. His eyes cut around the room. He gauged the attitudes of the other flag officers. He could tell some were not happy about the proposed plan, but they were willing to listen to the compromise.

  “All right. Set it up,” he ordered. “In the meantime, why don't you fill the rest of us in on what you have in mind,” he said dryly.

  “Well, it's like this …”

  ~<><{<^>}><>~

  Horatio noted the adversarial group the moment he entered the conference room. Not all of the Bekian senior staff was there but enough to make him want to be elsewhere. He wasn't sure what to make of seeing Rear Admiral Zekowitz there as well.

  “Sir,” he said, coming to attention after he entered the compartment.

  “Come in and take a seat, Commodore, we have a lot to discuss,” Admiral Childress said coldly, kicking off the conversation.

  Horatio nodded and went over to the one empty seat, pulled the chair out, and then sat. He felt the thing was off balance. Either someone had gotten cheap on the furniture or they were playing stupid mind games. He was up on the “put the guy in an uncomfortable chair” game investigators used.

  He gauged the looks and attitudes of the flag officers in the room. Some like Admiral Childress and Admiral N'r'm'll were downright hostile. He wondered how many toes he'd stepped on with his latest outing. Clearly this wasn't an indictment of his whistle-blowing. If it had been, they would have had a JAG officer present.

  Were they considering trying to talk him into resigning or retiring? He wasn't certain about that. It definitely wasn't “for the good of the navy” even if they might think it would be.

  Zek had tried to make him aware that some of the officers in Bek tended to carry on wars and grudges well past their expiration dates. He felt like he was being dangled out over a tank of sharks. He was aware he had no immediate backup, but he was getting tired of kowtowing to them.

  Admiral Childress started the ball rolling. “What gives you the right to pull a stunt like that, Commodore? I should bust your ass down to a sailor. You obviously don't have a decent bone in your body if you allowed this to go public without even trying to go through channels so we could clean it up. To think, a jumped up …”

  “He's never held a true command—not a ship command,” Admiral N'r'm'll said scathingly, interrupting his boss. Horatio stiffened. They talked like he wasn't even in the room. He glanced at Zek and opened a text chat, but the rear admiral refused to accept it.

  “Actually, sir, I have,” Horatio said in his own defense. “With respect I commanded Sun-Yat among other ships,” Horatio replied.

  “And Sun-Yat was?” the Veraxin demanded. He already knew the answer; he just wanted it out there for the rest of the staff to hear.

  “A corvette,” Horatio admitted calmly.

  “A corvette,” The Veraxin echoed in disbelief.

  “But it is a command,” Zek pointed out desperately. He bit his lip when he got a few cool looks. He'd forgotten himself in the heat of the moment.

  “It's a corvette!” the Veraxin stated.

  “Yeah, big deal …,” Admiral Hill said.

  “And after we salvaged her, I commanded Sun-Yat during the battle of Pyrax,” Horatio inserted quietly.

  That brought the collection of senior officers up short. Eyes narrowed in speculation as they turned on him. None of them could claim combat experience.

  “You are a combat veteran then,” Admiral Draken said it as a statement rather than a question. He'd read the commodore's record unlike many of his colleagues.

  “Oh, yes,” Horatio murmured softly. “Pyrax wasn't my first rodeo. I saw action during the Xeno war many times. I had two ships shot out from under me, Admiral Daring's flagship Invincible was one of them. The last the frigate Washington left me in Pyrax.” Or thereabouts he thought.

  “That's right, he's a sleeper like Admiral Irons,” Admiral Toronto said with a frown. “I'd forgotten that. Still …”

  Admiral Childress shot him a quelling look then returned his attention to the commodore. “What I meant was, a veteran officer.” There were points awarded to officers who served a command and bonus points for large commands or ships of various types, warships, and bases at the top of course. There were also points awarded to combat veterans. Since Bek never saw actual combat, the only people who ever got those points were in the marines who occasionally helped out with police actions.

  “Yes, sir. I served briefly as Admiral Irons’ XO on Firefly when we returned her to service before being detached to salvage other ships to press them to duty to defend Pyrax. Sun-Yat was one of those ships. After the battle, I served as the admiral's G-4 ships as well as Captain of Damocles. When things went south on Vesta, I was then appointed commander of the star system during Admiral Irons' exile.”

  “We know all that,” Admiral N'r'm'll said testily.

  “During that time period, I was also on the books as the captain of Bismark,” the commodore rolled on, oblivious to the interruption. “I served on her even though she was crippled and used her in a series of war games.”

  “I see,” Admiral Childress drawled thoughtfully. “So you've had command of three ships.”

  “Wait, wait, back up. You served during the Xeno war. Got that. But I thought you were a yeoman?” Admiral N'r'm'll demanded.

  Horatio smiled thinly. It seemed people tended to latch onto things like that, never understanding or ignoring the fact that everyone had to start somewhere, and most people started at the bottom and worked their way up the ladder of life and responsibility. “I went to college before and during my early enlistment. I was a yeoman briefly before the Xeno war when I briefly knew Admiral Irons. When I was promoted to Chief Petty Officer, I was asked to accept a commission but there were no slots available in the mustang class so I was kept where I was at. Since I had been studying engineering and had a bachelor’s in several fields, I was press ganged into the role
of a power room tech when the fleet came in and needed warm bodies.” He shrugged.

  “I see.”

  “So you can handle a ship,” Zek said with some relief in his voice. “You aren't just staff.”

  Horatio studied him before he nodded slowly. Both men could see some of the senior staff stiffen in indignation at that backhanded slap. “Of course. I'm not as tactically proficient as some as you know, Admiral,” he said with a small smile and bow to the rear admiral, “but I can handle the job if I have to do so. I also know to train and rely on good subordinates. I admit I haven't taken a ship in hyper or been in hyper combat, but I've simmed it often enough.” He shrugged.

  “I see.” Admiral Draken said looking at the other senior officers significantly. He cleared his throat. “Well, then, we have a job for you …”

  ~<><{<^>}><>~

  “That … could have gone better,” Zek said, shaking his head. He eyed Horatio then shook his head. He'd tried to sweep for bugs in the compartment, but he couldn't be certain he'd found them all.

  “You think?” Horatio asked, sitting down. He shook his head as he rubbed his brow. “A ship's captain though? I'm supposed to be a liaison. A yard manager! Now they want me to run a ship on a glorified salvage mission?”

  “Hey, you take what you can get. I tried to tell you there are forces at work here, deep forces that are unwilling to change. And technically, you won't be Ilmarinen's captain. You'll just be in charge of her mission.”

  Horatio huffed. “We used to call them dinosaurs. The old guard that refused to adapt to changes. They become stifled and ridged.”

  “And its talk like that you need to be careful of, Horatio,” Zek warned. Horatio eyed him. “I know; it's me. You can let your hair down. But you really need to mind your P's and Q's with more senior officers. They can get brutal,” he warned.

  Horatio nodded slightly.

  “I'm serious. Interrupting them like that didn't go over well even though you made your point each time.”

  “And proving them wrong and rubbing their nose in it didn't help I guess,” Horatio said, eyes narrowed as he gamed the scenario out.

  “Bingo,” Zek said, shaking his head. “Face it, Horatio, this is an upwards battle. One we're not going to be able to win overnight. I know Admiral Irons and others were hopeful of major changes, but that's not going to happen. At least, not for some time.”

  “Not until some people retire and fresh faces and more flexible minds come into play,” the commodore said quietly. He didn't mention his opinion that some officers should have stayed retired.

  “Which is a problem. Anyone who has that sort of flexibility is seen as a threat to the establishment. They are either given a dead end job or shuffled off to oblivion and retirement. Or,” he grimaced, “kept around to be useful as a firebrand, then trotted out to play point man on some subject and then sacrificed like a pawn,” he said with a growl. That last growl had more than a little hint of his own frustration in it.

  “That sounded like the voice of experience,” Horatio said, eyeing the admiral.

  “You could say I've seen it a few too many times in my career. It's taught me a bit of caution I guess you could say,” Zek said with a shrug. “You have to be very wary of who you trust. The old saying of keep your friends close, but your enemies closer comes to mind.”

  “Bitter?”

  Zek shrugged such things aside but then decided to answer frankly anyway. It seemed Horatio needed to see the whole picture. “A little. Now Admiral Irons through Caroline has opened a third option. Anyone who gives the establishment a headache is nicely put on the list to go to the outer Federation.”

  Horatio nodded slowly. He'd figured that part out a little. “And serve or get killed. They realize that those people will accrue experience, right? They'll get combat experience, rank …”

  “And quite possibly get themselves killed in the process,” Zek finished for him. “And the Federation is so hard up for experienced personnel there is no way they'll end up back here. At least, not anytime soon.”

  “So they are exiled,” Horatio said. “But you returned,” he said, eyeing Zek.

  Zek snorted. “Not because I wanted to. You know that.” Horatio nodded. “I came back under protest but also under orders from Admiral Irons. They didn't have a choice about taking me back,” Zek said with another fatalistic shrug. “Eventually, I'll step on enough toes and burn enough bridges that I'll be quietly shown the door. As an engineer and with experience outside of Bek, I'm more likely to find a job in the private sector doing some sort of work—not as a lobbyist though,” he grimaced.

  “Damn,” Horatio murmured. He shook himself. “I think Admiral Irons would take you on. In fact, I know so. Like you said, we need everyone. And yes, people with experience, especially your experience is invaluable. I could see you doing dozens of things across the Federation. Me as well. Getting them to see it here though …”

  “There you go again, us against them,” Zek said, shaking his head. He held up his hands. “I can't take sides, Horatio; I can't,” he said firmly. “Too much is at stake. So, watch your mouth and mind your thoughts. Be careful what you tell Admiral Irons too. Anything that you do could come back and haunt us both,” Zek warned.

  “Lovely,” Horatio growled. “So, what do I do?”

  “You take the lemons and make lemonade. Just don't do it so they get egg on their face in the process,” Zek said with a puckered expression.

  “Right,” Horatio drawled.

  “I'm serious, Horatio; you are in enough trouble as it is,” Zek said, sounding like he meant it. “And yeah,” he held up a restraining hand, “I know. Admiral Irons. Just remember, he's in Antigua, you are here. These people are here.”

  “So … who will eventually replace them?”

  “Ah, see, that's the rub. Remember when you pointed out all that lovely tech they've been overlooking?” Zek asked dryly.

  Horatio's eyes narrowed. Slowly he nodded.

  “Well, they aren't willing to put it into production, at least not all of it. But they are cherry-picking some of it. Some of the care packages included samples. So the brass got doses of antigeriatric treatments to “stabilize” them. I thought it was funny that they lifted the mandatory retirement age,” he said sarcastically.

  Horatio's lips puckered in a sour expression as he caught on. “So, you are telling me, a select few get to go on—a few at the top, the brass. They get the treatments; they'll have another century or so in office. We're stuck with them and upward mobility here in Bek just evaporated.”

  Zek nodded. “Barring accident or major injury, yup, no changes. And things will keep muddling along the same as they always have, which keeps the politicians happy. They are terrified of change. Especially change they can't control and guide. It makes them seem redundant, which is dangerous. It also threatens their backers, which is even more dangerous.”

  “Lovely,” Horatio sighed tiredly.

  “It gets better though,” Zek said. Horatio eyed him. “I heard through the grapevine that Childress has flexed his muscles when he took over. He's made it clear to the president that he doesn't respond to orders from the Bekian government anymore.”

  “So … he's rogue?” Horatio asked.

  Zek shook his head. “No, he claims to be following the orders of Admiral Irons. He's classified them though, so only he knows them,” he pointed out.

  “Um …,” Horatio frowned as a thought occurred to him. He scratched the side of his nose.

  “I know,” Zek said quietly. “I know the orders. You do too. And others. I imagine a copy of them were sent to the present administration in some way to outline Admiral Irons' intent. But Admiral Childress can claim he got secret orders, and or as senior officer and the only one truly aware of the situation in the star system, he can alter them to suit his needs for the moment.”

  “Lovely. Suddenly I'm glad I'm getting exiled,” Horatio mused.

  “Be damn careful with that ship
, Horatio. Make certain you go over it with a fine-tooth comb,” Zek warned, eyeing the commodore to get his point across.

  Horatio's entire body stilled as the pointed statement penetrated his thoughts. Sabotage? His eyes asked as he eyed the rear admiral. The rear admiral shrugged slightly. “I'll do that,” he said roughly. “You watch your back,” he said.

  “I know that. Duck and cover for the time being, it's all I can do,” Zek said shaking his head.

  “Understood,” Horatio said with a nod as he left.

  ~<><{<^>}><>~

  “ …Not until some people retire and fresh faces and more flexible minds come into play,” the commodore said quietly.

  Admiral Childress grimaced as his finger cut off the recording. He'd listen to the rest later. He was too smart to have it transferred to a text file to read; he didn't want anyone else listening to it. It was bad enough that he had to take time out of his busy schedule to do so. “The slike is arrogant. I so want to squash him like the bug he is.”

  “More like confident. He's an officer. He's used to being in charge, sir,” Admiral Hill said, stirring her drink.

  Admiral Childress's eyes flickered. There was nothing he hated more than a threat or upstart to his reign. Now that Sienkov had stepped down and he'd pushed Georgi Porgi aside, it was his time to rule once more. He'd waited a decade resenting being forced to step down the first time and looking for a way back in. For the opportunity Admiral Irons had dropped in his lap. He wasn't going to allow anyone to get in his way. “Well, he's not here. He'd better get used to that in a damn hurry,” he growled darkly.

  “Do you think this mission will be enough of a distraction? And go a ways to appease the public and Irons?” Admiral N'r'm'll asked.

  “It should. If he succeeds, we get a couple more ships to use to resume trade with Bek B and Nuevo, as well as to train more personnel on. If he fails … well, it'll pretty much flatten his career now, won't it?” Admiral Hill said nastily.